Evaluation of Pedestrian Facilities in Al-Najaf City

sadeq, Hayder Ismael; Al-Jameel, Hamid Athab · 2023 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1051/e3sconf/202342703024

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Summary

This study addresses the critical issue of pedestrian-vehicle interaction and its negative impact on traffic flow and safety in Al-Najaf City, Iraq. The research is motivated by the lack of attention to pedestrian facilities, which leads to significant side friction, delays, and reduced performance of the urban road network. Pedestrians frequently interact with vehicular streams, creating hazards and inefficiencies. The primary objective was to evaluate the adequacy of existing pedestrian footbridges and quantify the intensity of pedestrian-traffic interactions across selected urban sites. The methodology involved a spatial analysis of footbridge locations using ArcGIS 10.5, comparing data from 2010 and 2022 to assess infrastructure growth. The study identified 18 footbridges, noting that while seven existed prior to 2010, eleven were added by 2022. No pedestrian tunnels were found in the city. Field data collection was conducted at seven specific urban road segments during morning and evening peak hours on typical weekdays. Traffic and pedestrian volumes were recorded via video cameras and manually counted. Geometric details, including road width and lane counts, were measured. The study utilized the Indonesian Highway Capacity Manual (IHCM) to classify Side Friction (SF) levels based on hourly pedestrian and vehicle interactions, categorizing them from very low to very high. The results revealed a significant disparity between pedestrian demand and available infrastructure. Sites I and II, located on Najaf-Kufa Street near educational institutions, exhibited the highest levels of pedestrian-vehicle interaction, classified as "Very High" side friction. Site VII showed "Low" side friction, while the remaining sites were classified as "Very Low." Despite the addition of footbridges over the twelve-year period, the study concluded that the current infrastructure is insufficient. Field surveys and data analysis indicated a need for more than 20 additional footbridges across the city, particularly on Class I and Class II multilane roads characterized by high commercial, industrial, and social activity. The high interaction levels at Sites I and II demonstrated that existing facilities fail to mitigate side friction effectively in high-demand areas. The significance of this research lies in its empirical demonstration of the inadequacy of pedestrian infrastructure in Al-Najaf City. By linking specific side friction levels to the absence of adequate crossing facilities, the study provides evidence-based recommendations for urban planning. It highlights that prioritizing pedestrian infrastructure, such as footbridges and curb railings, is essential for improving traffic flow efficiency and enhancing pedestrian safety. The findings suggest that urban road network performance can be significantly improved by addressing the neglect of pedestrian needs, thereby reducing accidents and congestion in densely populated areas.

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• pedestrian behavior perception